🧐 This 94-year-old Ballardite has seen it all

It’s Friday, everyone, and today we’re raising a glass to Ballard’s history with a stop at the iconic Sloop Tavern. Who better to help us dig into the neighborhood’s past than a lifelong Ballardite with the last name Larsen?

“Most everybody came here from somewhere else,” 94-year-old Louis Larsen told us between rounds of Big Buck Hunter at the Sloop Tavern. Hear more by clicking on the image.

(📹: Eric Keto)

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW BALLARD...

It’s true that Ballard has changed a lot over the years, but there’s one person who has probably seen the neighborhood transform more than anyone.

Louis Larsen was born in 1924 and grew up five blocks from downtown Ballard. You may remember that the neighborhood was its own city before 1906 — a distinction that helped shape the area’s unique character and special history.

We asked Larsen what it means to be a Ballardite today. And what better place to conduct the interview than at Ballard’s own Sloop Tavern?

QUOTABLE: “New people coming in, getting involved in the community, makes it a stronger community.”

And speaking of Scandinavians… Time is running out to vote for the final installment of our neighborhood spotlight series on Ballard. Ian King‘s question about how all those Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes got here in the first place is currently in the lead, but two other questions about fishing sustainability and annexation aren’t far behind.

Refer your friends

Congrats to the 46 members who got the right answer in our trivia challenge this week about Seattle’s o.g. skyscraper. And a big way-to- go to our lucky winner, Bruce R., for scoring a $20 gift certificate to Seattle Chocolate!

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ANOTHER WAY TO FIGHT AN ADDICTION

Homelessness and substance abuse are two problems that often go hand in hand. But a new University of Washington study suggests an abstinence isn’t the only way to help folks overcome their addictions.

Dr. Susan Collins is known for her research on “harm reduction” — a process where mental health providers help people identify their problems and work on finding solutions. In a randomized control study, Collins’ team of researchers tracked 168 people dealing with homelessness and chronic alcoholism in Seattle.

The findings suggest there’s another way for people who aren’t ready to stop drinking “to make incremental or more realistic changes” without quitting cold-turkey, Collins told The Seattle Times.

The study comes as uncertainty swells around King County’s plans to open a safe-injection site for drug users. The county health board approved a plan to open two sites back in 2017, but funding woes and a civil lawsuit in Philadelphia have put the project on hold for now.

In other news…

A pathway to honor local victims of the AIDS epidemic is set to open in Capitol Hill’s Cal Anderson Park sometime next year. (Curbed)

Kids across the Seattle region plan to walk out of school today to raise awareness about the environmental consequences of climate change. (KNKX)

Counting down the hours until you can rush home and binge-watch “Shrill” on Hulu? You’re not alone. The series, based on the memoir by Seattle writer Lindy West, debuts today. (Crosscut)

Here’s What’s Coming Up

Around Town

TODAY

🎨 Do a deep dive on how young people see arts and culture — through Sunday (Whidbey Island)

🎷 Hear jazz masters from our own high schools at the Paramount (Downtown)

🎪 Step right up to the Moisture Festival, our city’s big top variety show — through April 7 (All over)

🍀 Watch a Seattle re-enactment of St. Patrick’s landing in Ireland, with pirates (South Lake Union)

WE SEE YOU

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Thanks for all the support. We’ll see you next week. ✌️

— The Evergrey

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